CDCFIB 2025 Recruitment: Over 221,000 Candidates Fail Computer-Based Test (CBT)
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has revealed startling statistics from its 2025 recruitment exercise, indicating a massive shortfall in candidate performance. A total of 221,996 applicants failed the final Computer-Based Test (CBT), underscoring significant skills gaps even among candidates who successfully navigated the initial application and screening stages for the highly competitive paramilitary roles.
The nationwide exercise targets recruitment for four key paramilitary agencies: the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the Federal Fire Service (FFS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Table of Contents
Massive Failure Rate: Over 221,000 Candidates Fail CBT
The Application Phase: High Demand Across Paramilitary Agencies
Shortlisting Metrics: Disqualified and Incomplete Applications
CBT Performance Analysis: Score Distribution and Absenteeism
Geographic Interest: Top 10 States for Applications
1. Massive Failure Rate: Over 221,000 Candidates Fail CBT
The CDCFIB confirmed that 221,996 candidates, despite being shortlisted and sitting for the examination, fell into the lowest score bracket of 0–40, indicating a clear failure to meet the minimum required competency standards.
CBT Score Distribution
The distribution of scores for the CBT, held from November 12 to 19, 2025, shows that the largest concentration of candidates scored in the moderate-to-good range (61–80), but the failure rate remains high.
| Score Range | Number of Candidates | Outcome |
| 0–40 | 221,996 | Failed |
| 41–60 | 229,155 | Passed (Low) |
| 61–80 | 278,543 | Passed (Moderate to Good) |
| 81–100 | 142,697 | Passed (Excellent) |
2. The Application Phase: High Demand Across Paramilitary Agencies
The recruitment exercise witnessed immense demand, with over 1.8 million applications submitted between July 14 and August 11, 2025. This reflects the high interest in securing federal jobs within the paramilitary sector.
Applications by Agency
| Agency | Total Applications |
| Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) | 703,499 |
| Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) | 482,198 |
| Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) | 406,491 |
| Federal Fire Service (FFS) | 165,212 |
| CDCFIB Secretariat | 116,122 |
The Nigeria Immigration Service received the highest number of applications, nearly double that of the next highest agency, highlighting its position as one of the most sought-after federal agencies.
3. Shortlisting Metrics: Disqualified and Incomplete Applications
After the initial application phase, the Board meticulously screened all submissions, resulting in three distinct status categories before the examination phase:
Fully Completed Applications: 1,120,491 (Moved forward to the CBT)
Incomplete Applications: 432,935
Disqualified Applications: 360,923
During the CBT itself, the Board reported that 71.8% of all shortlisted applicants wrote the exam, while a significant 18.5% were absent. The Board also flagged 5.4% of applicants for violations during the Computer-Based Test.
4. Geographic Interest: Top 10 States for Applications
The recruitment drive saw robust participation across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), underscoring the nationwide appeal of paramilitary roles. States in the North Central and North West dominated the submission tally.
Top 10 States with Highest Applications
| State | Application Submissions |
| Kogi | 116,378 |
| Kaduna | 114,797 |
| Benue | 110,776 |
| Kano | 89,501 |
| Niger | 78,916 |
| Katsina | 77,598 |
| Nasarawa | 75,995 |
| Adamawa | 75,753 |
| Oyo | 68,489 |
| Plateau | 67,365 |
Conversely, states with the least number of applications included Bayelsa (11,683), Rivers (14,337), and Lagos (22,244).
The CDCFIB recruitment drive, which targeted Nigerian citizens between 18 and 35 years old who meet specific physical and educational criteria (minimum SSCE credits, with preference for higher qualifications in technical fields), confirms both the massive unemployment challenge in the country and the need for significant improvement in general literacy and test-taking skills to pass federal standardized tests.
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